Dribble crossover training device

ABSTRACT

An athletic training device for teaching a crossover dribble skill comprised of an arc member coupled to weighted bases where the device is self-righting. The training device teaches players that the crossover dribble skill is low and has a significant horizontal component by passing the basketball underneath the arc member. The training device is self-righting due to the curved lower surface of the weighted bases as well as the weighted bases having a top and bottom chamber where only the bottom chamber is filled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate, in general, to athletictraining equipment and more particularly to equipment to assist indeveloping dribbling skills in basketball.

Relevant Background

The creation of the game of basketball is credited to James Naismith in1891. Mr. Naismith, a clergyman, and physician was working as aninstructor at the Young Men's Christian Association Training School inSpringfield, Massachusetts when his supervisor asked him to develop arecreation suitable for indoor winter play. The original “hoops” wherepeach baskets affixed to the wall.

Since its introduction, basketball has developed a worldwide followingas a recreation suitable for ages five and greater. The sport involveshand/eye coordination, cardiovascular exercise, teamwork, strategy, andsportsmanship. A key component of the game is dribbling. In basketball,dribbling is bouncing the ball on the floor continuously with one handat a time. It is the only legal way that a player may maintainpossession of the ball while walking or running. Dribbling began by aplayer passing the ball to themselves. The dribble allows for muchfaster advancement and thus more opportunities for scoring. It alsoprovides an opportunity for a crafty player on the opposing team to“steal” the ball in mid-bounce. Once a player stops dribbling the balland holds it, the player normally must either pass it to another playeror take a shot.

A crossover dribble is a basketball maneuver in which a player dribblingthe ball switches the ball rapidly from one hand to the other, to make achange in direction. In a typical example the player heads up-court,dribbling the ball in (say) the left hand, then makes a wide step leftwith a good head fake. If the defender is deceived, the player can thenswitch to dribbling with the right hand and surpass the defender. Thecrossover can allow the player an open short jumper or a clear path tothe basket.

There are numerous types of crossover dribbles, but each requires theplayer to pass the ball from one hand to the other. Effectively teachingcrossover dribble skills is challenging. Passing the ball from one handto the other in a dibble exposes the ball to the opponent and anopportunity for the ball to be stolen. Various tools have been craftedto aid in teaching players techniques to protect the ball while aidingin the mobility of the ball. For example, hurdles are used to express toa player the need to pass the ball to the other hand at a low angle muchlike an arc rather than a V bounce.

As one might expect, a player learning to crossover dribble will engagethe hurdle, chairs, or other obstacle designed to teach the player touse a low arcing technique. When the basketball engages devices of theprior art they move, fall over, and stop the flow of the drill orexercise. A need exists for a dribble crossover training device thatencourages players to pass the ball in a low sweeping arc yet, uponinteraction with the basketball or player, will automatically reset intoits starting position, enabling the player (or other players) continuouspractice. These and other deficiencies of the prior art are addressed byone or more embodiments of the present invention.

Additional advantages and novel features of this invention shall be setforth in part in the description that follows, and in part will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the followingspecification or may be learned by the practice of the invention. Theadvantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of theinstrumentalities, combinations, compositions, and methods particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and objects of the present invention and the manner ofattaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself willbe best understood, by reference to the following description of one ormore embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings andfigures imbedded in the text below and attached following thisdescription.

The Figures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes ofillustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize fromthe following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structuresand methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing fromthe principles of the invention described herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention showing the arc member andweighted bases.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention showing the arc member,weighted bases, the air inflation valve and the fill port.

FIG. 3 is a side-view perspective of the invention, showing the top andbottom chamber, fill valve, and curved lower surface.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the self-righting feature of the invention.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b . depict players using the invention.

FIG. 6 is a top-view perspective of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a bottom-view perspective of the invention showing the curvedlower surface, fill port, and non-skid or slip resistant material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an athletic training device that aids in teaching thecrossover dribble skill for playing basketball. The invention is assistsin teaching players that the crossover dribble skill is low and has asignificant back-and-forth or horizontal component, instead of aprimarily up-and-down or vertical motion used in a basic dribble.Players pass the basketball underneath the arc member which gives themboth visual and physical indications of how to maneuver the ball.Weighted bases with a curved lower surface allow the device to beself-righting. This allows uninterrupted use of the invention when abasketball, hand, or other object impacts the invention as opposed topausing or restarting the drill each time the device is knocked over.The weighted base design allows the invention to be used on any surfacethat a basketball can be bounced on as the invention rests on thesurface and does not require any type of attachment to the floor. Theinvention can be made from a lightweight, inflatable material that canbe emptied out and compressed, taking up sufficiently less space forboth portability and storage.

Embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described in detailwith reference to the accompanying Figures. Although the invention hasbeen described and illustrated with a certain degree of particularity,it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by wayof example and that numerous changes in the combination and arrangementof parts can be resorted to by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the present invention as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the embodiments described hereincan be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructionsare omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings but are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not forthe purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic,parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations orvariations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error,measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those ofskill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effectthe characteristic was intended to provide.

Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, thesizes of certain lines, layers, components, elements or features may beexaggerated for clarity.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface”includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary,“or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example,a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true(or present), and B is false (or not present), A is false (or notpresent), and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (orpresent).

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the specification andrelevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions orconstructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

It will be also understood that when an element is referred to as being“on,” “attached” to, “connected” to, “coupled” with, “contacting”,“mounted” etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to,connected to, coupled with, or contacting the other element orintervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an elementis referred to as being, for example, “directly on,” “directly attached”to, “directly connected” to, “directly coupled” with or “directlycontacting” another element, there are no intervening elements present.It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that referencesto a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another featuremay have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

Spatially relative terms, such as “under,” “below,” “lower,” “over,”“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of a device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in thefigures is inverted, elements described as “under”, or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements orfeatures. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both anorientation of “over” and “under”. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms“upwardly,” “downwardly,” “vertical,” “horizontal” and the like are usedherein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicatedotherwise.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustration of an embodiment of a crossover dribbledevice. The crossover dribble device 100 is essentially comprised of anarc member 110 coupled to a left and right weighted base 120. The deviceis approximately knee high and has an arc chord length 130 of at leastone and a half times the diameter of a basketball. Each weighted base120 is comprised of two chambers, a top chamber 140 and a bottom chamber150. The top chamber 140 and the bottom chamber 150 are separated usinga material that prevents the base fill material from moving from thebottom chamber 150 to the top chamber 140. In an embodiment, the bottomchamber 150 has a fill port 160 on the outer wall and the arc member 110has an inflation valve 170 on the outer wall. The bottom of the weightedbase always has a curved lower surface 180 which facilitates theself-righting feature of the invention. Between the top chamber 140 andthe bottom chamber 150 is a chamber separation 190. This chamberseparation 190 must be in the lower half of the weighted base 120 andbelow the top of the curved lower surface 180. Once the bottom chamber150 is filled with the desired fill substance, the center of mass willbe sufficiently low enough in the device that the device isself-righting when a force is applied to the arc member 110 while usingthe device. In this embodiment, each weighted base 120 is substantiallyspherical and wider than the arc member 110. In other embodiments, theweighted base could be substantially conical, substantially cubical, oranother shape so long as the weighted base 120 has a curved lowersurface 180. The weighted base 120 has a centerline 210, which isapproximately halfway between the top of the weighted base 120 and thebottom of the weighted base.

In one embodiment, the arc member 110 is comprised of a flexible, soft,and airtight material that will remain generally rigid and upright wheninflated. In this embodiment, the arc member 110 will have an inflationvalve 170. The width of the arc member 110 will be sufficient to allowfor the arc member 110 to stand upright when fully inflated and will bedependent on the type of material used to make the device, generally twoto eight inches wide. In another embodiment, the arc 110 is made from alightweight, semi-rigid material, such as high-density foam, that willhold the arc shape when coupled to the weighted bases 120. In anotherembodiment, the arc member 110 is comprised of a lightweight fabric witha spring frame attached inside. The spring frame can be compressed tofold essentially flat for storage and transport but will pop out intothe arc member 110 shape once the compression is removed.

The weighted bases 120 can be made of various materials, including thesame lightweight, flexible, airtight material discussed above for thearc members 110. More rigid materials, such as thermoset plastics, arealso contemplated for the weighted bases 120. In another embodiment, theweighted bases are comprised of a lightweight fabric with a spring frameattached inside. The spring frame can be compressed to fold essentiallyflat for storage and transport but will pop out into the weighted base120 shape once the compression is removed. One of reasonable skill inthe relevant art of material science will recognize that many suitablematerials exist that can be used for forming the arc member 110 and theweighted base 120 as described herein.

In one embodiment, the top chamber 140 and bottom chamber 150 areseparated by an airtight material. Other embodiments are contemplated,such as when a high-density foam is used for the arc member 110 and arigid plastic used for the weighted bases 120, that do not require thechamber separation 190 be an airtight material. The top chamber 140 willbe filled with air upon inflation or remain hollow depending on thematerial selected for the weighted bases 120. The bottom chamber 150 canbe filled with water, sand, a combination thereof, or other suitablebase fill material.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustration of an embodiment of the invention whereboth the arc member 110 and the weighted bases 120 are made out of asoft, flexible, airtight material capable of holding shape when filled,such as a PVC fabric. In this embodiment there is no separation betweenarc member 110 and the top chamber 140, allowing both to be inflatedusing the inflation valve 170 which is in the sidewall of the arc member110. In this embodiment of the invention, the device has welded seams230 at various locations including, but not limited to, the arc member110, the centerline 210 of the weighted bases 120, and to attach thefill port 160 and the inflation valve 170. Depending on the selectedmaterial and manufacturing process, the device can have welded seams 230or use another method to bond the seams, including, but not limited to,glued seams.

The bottom chamber 150 includes a fill port 160 on the outer wall andincludes a fill port cap 220. The fill port cap 220 can be attached tothe fill port 160 as shown in FIG. 2 , or it can be a separate piece.The fill port cap 220 is made of a material sufficient to create a sealwith the fill port 160 to hold the fill material inside the bottomchamber 150 until the fill port cap 220 is removed. One benefit to thisembodiment of the invention is that it can be deflated and the fillmaterial removed, allowing the device to be rolled or stored in acompact and lightweight form, taking up little room in a backpack orstorage container. Multiple devices can be transported easily andefficiently in a small backpack, allowing the user to setup a drill orcourse that requires the player to change direction, approach fromdifferent angles, and other scenarios that will increase the player'sability and confidence in performing the crossover dribble skill.

With the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 ., the base fill material isselected, inserted, and removed by the user. Users may prefer water asthe base fill material as it is often readily available and offerssimplicity to fill and empty out the weighted base 120. Other users mayelect to use sand or another substance with a higher density resultingin a heavier base when filled. A heavier weighted base 120 allows thedevice to remain in place and self-right even when hit with a strongerforce. In another embodiment, the bottom chamber 150 would be filled andsealed during manufacture, thereby eliminating the need for a fill port160 and fill port cap 220.

FIG. 3 is diagram illustration of an embodiment of the invention,showing a sideview of the crossover training device 100. One of thefeatures of the invention is that the device is self-righting. When thearc member 110 is contacted by a force, such as a hand or a basketball,the device will pivot from a vertical stance to a more horizontal stancebut then right itself. This is caused by the chamber separation 190being low in the weighted base 120, creating a low center of gravitywhen the bottom chamber 150 is filled and the top chamber 140 remainsempty. Regardless of where the pivot point is on the curved lowersurface 180 when the invention is pushed on its side, the lower centerof gravity will pivot the device back to its upright starting position.Although the embodiment in FIG. 3 shows a substantially sphericalweighted base 120, the invention is not limited to spherical bases.Other shapes are contemplated as long as they have a curved lowersurface 180.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustration of the self-righting feature of thecrossover dribble device. When a force is applied to the arc member 110by a basketball, hand, or other object, the invention will tip on itsside but the curved lower surface 180 and filled bottom chamber 150 willcause the invention to right itself. This is due to the low center ofgravity created when the bottom chamber 150 is filled but the topchamber 140 remains empty being closer to the center of the curved lowersurface 180 than pivot point where the curved lower surface contacts thefloor. Additionally, the invention is relatively quiet when a force isapplied to it. Between the self-righting feature and the types ofmaterial used to create the invention, there is no loud crash againstthe floor which would startle or disrupt a player. Efficiencies aregained in teaching the crossover dribble skill when players can completea drill or practice series without interruption or having to restart.

FIG. 5 a and FIG. 5 b are diagram illustrations of how users of variousages, heights, and skill levels can use the invention. In FIG. 5 a ,player 1 510 shows how a younger and shorter player would use theinvention, and in this example, he is approaching the crossover dribbledevice at a small offset. The hand of player 1 510 is on the side of theball to push the ball through the arc member 110, indicating how theinvention assists in teaching that the crossover dribble skill has asignificant horizontal component. Player 2 520 shows an older and tallerplayer using the invention. Similar to player 1 510, player 2 520 isshown in a low crouch with his hand on the side of the basketball topush the ball through the arc member with a significant horizontalcomponent. FIG. 5 a . also illustrates the use of more than onecrossover dribble device set-up as a drill or course where players wouldfollow one after the other. It also highlights how a self-rightingdevice would provide benefit in allowing the drill, in this example adrill with multiple players, to continue without having to stop or pausethe drill to reset a devices knocked over by one of the players. Thismakes for more efficient training sessions. FIG. 5 b is a diagramillustration of how the device would be used. Player 3 530 is in-linewith the device, conducting a static drill with the invention. Player 3530 is pushing the ball back-and-forth, in a low and tight mannercrossing the ball from her left hand to her right hand. In the eventplayer 3 530 were to push the ball or her hand into the invention, theself-righting feature would quickly pop the invention back up to itsupright position, allowing player 3 530 to continue the drill withouthaving to stop, set down the ball, reset the training device, and thenpick up the ball to continue with the drill.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustration of an embodiment of the invention froma top-view perspective. In this embodiment, each weighted base 120 issubstantially spherical and wider than the arc member 110. In otherembodiments, the weighted base could be substantially conical,substantially cubical, or another shape so long as the weighted base 120has a curved lower surface 180.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustration of one embodiment of the invention, abottom view of the device. In one embodiment of the invention, anon-skid or slip-resistant material 710 is coupled to the curved lowersurface 180 of the weighted bases 120 where the weighted base 120 makescontact with the floor or outdoor surface. This non-skid or slipresistant material 710 covers the curved lower surface 180 of theweighted base 120 and allows it to substantially maintain the curvedshape. The non-skid or slip-resistant material 710 allows the device tobe used on a variety of surfaces such as a smooth wood floor, an outdoorcourt surface, a driveway, road, or dirt driveway, without damage oralteration to the floor or surface.

While there have been described above the principles of the presentinvention in conjunction with a dribble crossover training device, it isto be clearly understood that the foregoing description is made only byway of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.Particularly, it is recognized that the teachings of the foregoingdisclosure will suggest other modifications to those persons skilled inthe relevant art. Such modifications may involve other features that arealready known per se, and which may be used instead of or in addition tofeatures already described herein. Although claims have been formulatedin this application to particular combinations of features, it should beunderstood that the scope of the disclosure herein also includes anynovel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed eitherexplicitly or implicitly or any generalization or modification thereofwhich would be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art, whetheror not such relates to the same invention as presently claimed in anyclaim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technicalproblems as confronted by the present invention. The Applicant herebyreserves the right to formulate claims to such features and/orcombinations of such features during the prosecution of the presentapplication or of any further application derived therefrom.

What is claimed is:
 1. A basketball teaching device, comprising: an arcmember, describing an arc of approximately 180 degrees, having asubstantially circular body of a diameter between two to eight inchesand terminating in a first end and a second end that are each in a sameplane when the arc member is upright with a center diameter of the arcmember at a right angle to the plane, a height from the plane to atopmost center diameter of the arc member being approximately twelve totwenty-four inches; a first weighted base and a second weighted base,coupled to the first and the second end of the arc member, respectively,each of the weighted bases having a curved lower surface, and a topinternal chamber and a bottom internal chamber.